Crystal's One Night of Love

In the cloak of the night, nestled in the narrow alley, stood an age-worn dwelling.

Henry’s gaze was fixated on his younger sister, who he had doted on for many years. He examined her attire, plain to the point of austerity, and the crumbling structure that served as her shelter.

His eyes throbbed with a sting that could not be suppressed, and the fingers that clutched his cigarette trembled subtly.

Taking a deep drag of his cigarette, he stepped inside the place and scanned around. “Where’s the kid?”

Melora was taken aback. “Has Crystal told you?”

Henry responded in a helpless tone, “Do you expect her to help you keep it a secret and watch as you continue living in this squalor? Whose child is it?”

Up until that moment, he was truly oblivious to the identity of the child’s father.

Melora wouldn’t let him in the room.

Henry extinguished his cigarette, exhaling the last puff of smoke. “Who is it?”

No matter who the father was, he wanted to beat him up so badly and break his teeth.

Melora blocked the door, pleading in a hushed voice, “Berthold and I are doing fine. Henry, I can support him on my own. Please don’t ask anymore!”

Henry’s eyes reddened.

He was but half a step away from her. With an outstretched arm, he pulled her to the side and entered the room.

The bedroom was of meager proportion, not even covering ten square meters.

An aged bed and a tiny desk housing several dozen magazines was all it contained.

Henry flicked through the trashy magazines, all showcasing Melora on the cover, the young lady of the Miller family.

He swallowed hard, making his way toward the old bed.

On it, lay a small child, slumbering peacefully.

His skin was fair, and he had a full head of dark brown hair.

Henry’s eyes turned bloodshot at the familiar eyes and unique hair color.

He no longer needed to ask Melora who the father was, as there was no need to do so anymore!

Henry whirled around, his eyes burning holes into his little sister.

Melora’s lips quivered, and her face contorted in distress as she pleaded, “Henry, don’t look for him! Don’t… I’ve broken up with him.”

Henry reached out, tenderly touching the little boy.

He paused and asked gently, “Him? Which him? Melora, tell me.”

Melora covered her mouth in shock.

It dawned on her that Henry must have realized who the father was.

Henry’s voice was dangerously low as he said, “When did you two become a thing? Do you understand what you’re doing? He’s at least ten years older than you. A man of his stature, in his forties and still unmarried, has had his share of meeting women from all walks of life, so why would he be attracted to a greenhorn like you?”

Melora was crushed.

She knew she had been punching above her weight.

Henry didn’t ask anymore. He took off his coat, put it on little Berthold, and gently lifted.

“Henry!” Melora clutched his arm, begging.

In the dim light, Henry’s expression was as calm as still water. “Either you come home with me now, or I call Alfred to pick you and your son up. You decide.”

Melora had no choice.

She packed some clothes and followed Henry.

they descended the

Henry with a hint of fear in his expression,

assuring gently, “I am your uncle.

Melora, Berthold relaxed, closing

he delicately placed the little boy into the child seat in his car,

slid into the car, murmuring, “Could you not

“You’re afraid now?”

car door. He made his way around the front of the car and got in. He was infuriated and wanted to smoke.

a long silence, he gently stepped on

slowly pulled into the mansion’s

disturb Crystal for she had her own worries. The sound of the opening. and closing of the door stirred her awake. She slipped on

she saw Henry

for a

hushed tone. “Let Berthold sleep with Skyler tonight. You

Crystal nodded.

the staircase again,

entered, gingerly tucking the tiny boy into the warm bed

was too soft, or the day had been too

awoke just a sliver, her eyes cracking open into slits before she rolled over, pulling Berthold close

and finely chiseled, were strikingly similar, as

his heart soften at the

patted Berthold. “This child takes after

her guilt on her

voice. “You must have figured out who the old scoundrel

out more

softly, “Don’t let the children

fierce glare, but times

on me,” she warned him boldly as she exited the room. “I had nothing to

the tense look on his

grasped her hand. “Stay with Melora. I’ll head

agreed

grievances yet addressed. Yet, when faced with the situations at home, they instinctively leaned on one another for

to do? After all, I am Melora’s brother, and

began, “Don’t mind your brother’s Let’s freshen up first. Let me prepare some snacks for you-

about to step out, Melora held on

tidal wave of emotion washed

reassured, “You should have

called out in a

straightened her hair gently and said, “I’ll go prepare something for us to eat. You take a

Melora nodded.

went to prepare the snack. By the time everything was ready,

in her own cotton pajamas, the kind where the vibrant colors were nearly

Crystal noticed.

held back any remark and beckoned with a tremble in

down and

chatterbox who couldn’t stop talking like

simply kept

finishing the meal, Melora’s eyes were filled with tears. “Crystal, I’m scared. He couldn’t marry me back then, and now… I’ve nearly

she dwell on

she had single-handedly raised their child, living a tough life worrying about

Alfred had shared good times together. However, they were swept away by the

newspaper. He was still the dignified and

she, Melora Miller, had lost her youthful radiance. Moreover, the passage

a gentle voice, Crystal said, “Your brother will, after all, need to vent his anger. But he would

poor girl nodded

went

the heavy door of the study. The room was dim, save for

the desk, smoking. The ashtray before him was filled to the brim, a clear sign of his inner

walked to the window, and cracked

much! Aren’t

her

any other night, as Crystal voluntarily approached him, sat on his lap,

snuffed out the cigarette and leaned

a hoarse whisper, “Crystal, have I failed? If I hadn’t insisted on going to Kingdom of Brundela back then, your uncle and Melora may not have had the chance